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PROTECTIVE BOYFRIENDS

Hugh

AUGUST 7, 2002

A N HOUR LATER, WHEN I FOLDED MY GIRLFRIEND INTO THE BACK SEAT OF MY MOTH er’s car and watched them drive off, I stormed back into the house like a madman.

“You just couldn’t leave it alone, could you?” I seethed when I found Gibsie and Claire skulking in her room. “You had to fucking stir up drama.”

“I didn’t mean to upset her,” Gibs was quick to declare, holding his hands up. “I swear, lad.”

“Not you,” I snapped, turning my attention to my sister. “You.” Narrowing my eyes in disgust, I hissed, “You have no clue how much it took for Liz to come today. How much it meant to me to have her here and you fucked it.”

“Back off, Hugh.” Gibs was quick to defend Claire, wrapping a protective arm around my sister. “She said she was sorry. We both are.”

“Yeah?” I spat, chest heaving. “Well, sometimes sorry isn’t fucking good enough!”

“I’m so sorry, Hugh!” Claire blurted out, covering her face with her hands. “You were kissing my best friend, and I lost my mind for a moment.”

“Yeah, well get fucking used to it,” I snapped back. “Because your friend is my girlfriend and she can kiss me whenever the hell she wants, and she sure as shit doesn’t need my baby sister’s permission to do it.”

“I know, I know, I’m sorry,” she strangled out, looking genuinely guilty. “I knew I was wrong the moment the words came out. I just…I just… I wasn’t thinking.”

“Well, start thinking!” I hissed, beyond furious. “And don’t ever put her in a position like that again. She can’t fucking take it, Claire. That girl you call your friend is hanging on by a fucking thread!”

“What’s wrong with her, Hugh?” Gibsie asked, giving me a strange look.

“Nothing!” I snapped, pushing a hand through my hair. “She’s grieving her sister, that’s all.”

“Yeah, but I know grief, Hugh,” Gibs replied slowly, brows furrowed. “And that wasn’t it.”

I stared hard at him for the longest time before blowing out a weary breath. “Just leave her alone, all right?” And let it go .

“All right,” he replied, nodding slowly. “I will.”